Sweden Elects First Female Prime Minister
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Swedish Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson becomes Sweden's first female Prime Minister.
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Despite being a nation that has long championed gender equality, Sweden has never had a woman as prime minister before
Sweden's Parliament on Wednesday elected Social Democratic party leader and current Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson as the country's first female Prime Minister.
Andersson will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Stefan Lofven after a total of 117 MPs voted for her, while 174 voted against her, 57 abstained, and one was absent.
Under Sweden's system, a prime ministerial candidate does not need the support of a majority in Parliament; they just need to avoid having a majority against them, i.e. 175 votes.
In early November, Lofven announced his resignation from his positions as leader of the Social Democrats and as prime minister, after seven years in power.
He described the seven years in office as "fantastic".
"I am very proud as a working boy to have had the privilege of leading our country during these years,” he expressed.
Despite being a nation that has long championed gender equality, Sweden has never had a woman as prime minister.
All other Nordic countries, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, have seen women lead their governments.
